Clothesline prop



y 11 1951 J. T. BATEMAN 2,560,150

- CLOTHES LINE PROP Filed May 20, 1947 FIG.

pub

, I I I @l v a /3 INVENTOR. JA/mss' 7'. aArsMA/v, no ,4 BY

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE James T. Bateman,Norfolk, Va.

Application May 20, 1947, Serial No. 749,298

'2' Claims. '1

This invention relates to a prop for supporting a line, such as aclothes line, at a point intermediate its length, and particularlyconcerns a prop of this character which may be easily adjusted and heldin adjusted position to support the line at a desired level.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide :a" prop of thetype:described"which is securely locked in any adjusted :positionpwhich;is-

simple inconstruction, and readily manufactured.

The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention will bemade fully apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration ofthe following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with' theaccompanyin drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a prop constructed in accordance withthe invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but taken at a right anglethereto and showing parts in section.

Referring to the drawing, the prop illustrated comprises a lower sectionII, and an upper section IZ. Both sections are preferably of metal pipeof such diameter that the upper section telescopes into the lowersection. For example,

- the lower section I I may be formed of three quarters inch pipe andthe upper section I2 of three eighths inch pipe. The lower end of thesection II may be provided with a pointed end cap I3, or otherwisesharpened to permit this section to be forced into the ground.Preferably openings I4 are provided to release rain which mightotherwise accumulate in the lower section. The upper or second sectionI2 is mounted in the lower or first section II for extensile andcontractile movement. A longitudinal slot I5 is provided in the sectionII and a handle I6 projecting externally of the section I I and securedto the section I2 by a bolt I? extending through the slot I 5 permitsthe section I2 to be extended and contracted relative to the section II.

In order'to lock the two sections in any adjusted position the upper endof the lower section is cut at an angle to its transverse dimension asindicated at I8, and a washer I9 surrounds the upper section I2 and isadapted to rest on the upper end of the lower section. The washer I9 hasan opening corresponding to the outer diameter of the upper section I2to the end that when the washer is normal to the section I2 said sectionmay slide through the opening with only a small clearance therebetween.However, when the washer I9 is at an angle to the horizontal the 2washer grips the section I2 preventing relative motion therebetween. Thewasher I9 is biased into an oblique or tilted position by a spring'20.Preferably one end of the spring 20 is secured to the lower section IIby a clamp 2I, which clamp may be adjusted longitudinally of thelowersec tion II to adjust the tension of the spring '20. A screw 22 holdsthe clamp 2| in any adjusted position on the pipe II and also provides"a means to attach the spring 20 to the clamp. The other end of thespring 20 is attached to the outer elongated end of the washer I9 bymeans of an eye .bolt 23. Preferably the clamp .2I' does not completelysurround the pipe I I, having anopen portion to clear, the slot I5,permittingthe movement of the handle I6 the full. length of the slot.I5.

The upper end of the section I2 is externally threaded to be received inthe internally threaded socket 2 5 of a fitting member 25. The member 25also includes an upper elongated plate 25' formed to have a linereceiving hook 26 and an elongated plate 21 is pivoted on a bolt 28which is secured to the member 25 and said plate 21 is provided with ahook portion 29 adapted to coact with the hook 26 to secure the linetherebetween. A split washer 30 on the bolt 28 between the nut 3| andthe member 25 permits the bolt 28 to be tightened sufiiciently to causethe lever 29 to frictionally engage the plate 25 when the lever isclosed on the line, tending to hold the parts in closed position. Itwill be appreciated that thepivoted plate may be swung to and from itsoverlapping position with the stationary plate by manually engaginghandle 21', the same being offset, as stated, in order to clear theenlarged socket of the fitting, all as shown in the drawings.

In the operation of the device it will be apparent that when the uppersection I2 is lifted the washer I9 will tend to move into a horizontalposition and the upper section I2 will slide through the opening in thewasher. When the line has been adjusted to the desired level, and theweight of the line bears on the upper section, the washer I9 assumes anoblique position, the right hand end thereof resting on the upper end ofthe oblique cut I8, and the opposite end being biased downwardly by thespring 20, so that the washer securely grips the section I2. Anydownward force due to the weight of the line, is in a direction toincrease the tendency of the washer I9 to tilt and thus lock the twosections in adjusted position.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A clothes line prop comprising a first tubular section having one endopen and having the other end pointed for insertion into the ground, asecond section having one end extendin into the open end of said firstsection and mounted for extensile and contractile movement therein, afitting member having one end adjacent to the other end of said secondsection and fixedly secured thereto, a hook on the other end of saidfitting member for supporting a clothes line, a lever arranged in sideby side relation with respect to said fitting member and mounted on thelatter intermediate its ends for movement about an axis transverse ofsaid fitting member toward and away from the latter, a second hook onthe end of said lever adjacent the hook on said fitting member andfacing the latter to thereby lock the clothes line therebetween, handactuating means positioned exteriorly of and extending through saidfirst named section and connected to said second named section adjacentsaid one end for efiecting the extensile and contractile movement ofsaid second section, and a spring actuable means slidably engaging saidsecond section and engageable with the open end of said first sectionfor holding said second section in any select position of its expansiblemovement.

2. A clothes line prop comprising a first tubular section having one endopen and having the other end pointed for insertion into the ground, asecond section having one end extending into the open end of said firstsection and mounted for extensile and contractile movement therein, afitting member having one end adjacent to the other end of said secondsection and fixedly secured thereto, a hook on the other end of saidfitting member for supporting a clothes line, a lever arranged in sideby side relation with re spect to said fitting member and mounted on thelatter intermediate its ends for movement about an axis transverse ofsaid fitting member toward and away from the latter, a second hook onthe end of said lever adjacent the hook on said fitting member andfacing the latter to thereby lock the clothes line therebetween, therebeing a longitudinally extending slot in said first section extendinginwardly from said one end thereof and terminating at a point adjacentto and spaced from said pointed end, a bolt extending through said slotand having one end fixedly secured to said second section adjacent saidone end of the latter, hand actuable means on the other end of said boltfor effecting the extensile and contractile movement of said secondsection, and a spring actuable means slidably engaging said secondsection and engageable with the open end of said first section forholding said second section in any select position of its expansiblemovement.

JAMES T. BATEMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,505,137 Gee Aug. 19, 19241,681,192 McBride Aug. 21', 1928 2,215,759 Koehler Sept. 24, 19402,242,609 Hammar May 20, 1941 2,434,598 Stegall Jan. 13, 1948

